Lyne was reporting the outcomes of the EWI's International Youth Congress on Digital Citizenship held earlier in the week. The youth congress was aimed at bringing young people with government, business and technical leaders to discuss solutions to universal internet challenges.

Teaching skills for internet security

It is clear from the congress that we have to move towards greater cyber literacy in society through teaching the necessary skills at an early age, says Lyne.

"Participants at the youth congress agreed that cyber safety must be communicated through a variety of ways, and that young people are more likely to listen to peers than anyone else," he said.

Lyne says there is a case to be made for a public-private initiative to enable passionate role models to speak in schools about why internet security is an interesting profession.

Technology will continue to develop at a rapid rate, criminals will continue to carry out attacks, so this is not something that will disappear in a generation, he says.

Recommendations from the EWI Youth Congress on Digital Citizenship

Make a place for cyber skills and security in the school curriculum

Treat cyber skills and safety as important as all other school topics

Schools should consider peer-based mentoring programmes

Promote the message that online and offline life are one and the same

Make the topic of cyber safety exciting and relevant

Have enthusiastic cyber security role models

Speak in language that is more accessible and understandable

Introduce train the trainer programmes for teachers on cyber safety

Read more from the EastWest Institute's Second Worldwide Cybersecurity Summit:

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